Around the Betting Planet: Big upset in Kentucky Derby

US

Authentic wins 2020 Kentucky Derby

Despite spectators not being allowed in, fans and bettors alike have been waiting for the 146th Kentucky Derby for months. Now the big day has come and gone, so how did the day play out?

Authentic won in a massive upset as he broke away from firm favorite Tiz the Law and the remaining field from the get-go. He won by 1.25 lengths and completed the 1.25 miles in 2:00.61. The win is jockey John Velazquez’s third in the Derby and trainer Bob Baffert’s record-tying sixth.

UK

FA announce equal pay for female footballers

Joining Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand, the FA have announced that the women’s and men’s England football teams now receive equal pay. They stated that the squads had received the same match rates and bonuses since the beginning of 2020.

Brazil also made a statement this week about gender equality remuneration. The progressive step is aimed at bringing transformation to the game and players. We anticipate that many countries will follow suit.

Ian Bell retires from cricket

Ian Bell has announced that he will be retiring from professional cricket at the end of 2020. The classy middle-order batsman’s career has spanned 22 years and includes 118 Tests and 161 ODIs for England. He’s scored more than 13,000 international runs in his time and won five Ashes campaigns with his team.

Africa

Mamelodi Sundowns crowned PSL champions

Mamelodi Sundowns have clinched the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) title for the third year running, making it their 10th win overall. It’s also a historic win for the coach, Pitso Mosimane, as it’s his fifth time winning the league title.

The squad secured a top position when they emerged 3-0 winners against the Black Leopards.

Kaizer Chiefs were in the running for the title but needed an outright win over Baroka FC. Chiefs took the lead when Zimbabwean Khama Billiat scored in the 39th minute, but Manuel Kambala brought the score level in the 59th minute.

Kaizer Chiefs finish second with 57 points, two points behind Mamelodi Sundowns.

Europe

UEFA Nations League: Iceland vs England

In the opening Group B game of the UEFA Nations League, Iceland battled to the end but were ultimately defeated. The game was a dramatic affair, with Kyle Walker and Sverrir Ingi Ingason both receiving red cards.

The home team had a stoppage-time penalty that they missed, which proved costly. In the end, the weary English marched on until Raheem Sterling secured a win for his side with a penalty in the first minute of added time. 

UEFA Nations League: Italy vs Bosnia & Herzegovina

Italy’s 11-game winning streak came to an end as they drew 1-1 to Bosnia & Herzegovina. The game was tight throughout, with a goalless first half. In the second half, Edin Dzeko scored a goal, only for Stefano Sensi to equalize the score 10 minutes later.

South America

Argentine rugby stars test positive to COVID-19

Plans to continue the Rugby Championship are on hold after six members of the Argentina squad tested positive for coronavirus. Emiliano Boffelli and Javier Oretego Desio are among the infected players.

Despite the diagnosis, the six members are all asymptomatic and in good spirits. Those infected have already gone into preventative isolation. The rest of the team have entered a bio-secure bubble where training will commence over the next two weeks.

Australia

Sydney Swans youngster in hot water

Elijah Taylor keeps making headlines for the wrong reasons. The Sydney Swans youngster was suspended from the Australian Football League (AFL) when his partner broke protocol and entered the team’s quarantine quarters while in Western Australia. The breach cost the Swans $50,000 and resulted in a lengthy suspension for Taylor.

The pair have since called it quits, and now his ex-partner has made serious allegations against Taylor on social media. The AFL and the Swans are investigating the matter, which could bring a premature end to Taylor’s football career.

New Zealand

All Blacks squad confirmed

All Blacks fans across the globe were eager to hear who Ian Foster would select for the squad for the Rugby Championship, and now the team sheet is up.

In no surprise, we see TJ Perenara, Dane Coles, Karl Tu’inukuafe, and two of the Barrett brothers, Beauden and Jordie, return. Tupou Vaa’i makes his debut for the international team with six other new players in Quinten Strange, Hoskins Sotutu, Cullen Grace, Caleb Clarke, Alex Hodgman, and Will Jordan. We look forward to what they bring to the table.